How To Become A Good Story Writer For Your Book
How do you become a story writer?
Shall we start this way?
Can you remember that friend of yours that has just been on a trip of a lifetime?
When you meet up with them they say something like this to you,
“where do I begin,” and then they take you through a long story that tells you everything but really doesn’t tell you all that much.
They went to a country. They visited an island. They stayed in an apartment. The beach was wonderful. The culture was different. It was sunny. The beach was nice, etc.
Or did they add more stories to their story?
More like this.
“Once we arrived at the main airport we had to grab a connecting plane over to the island around 50 miles away over the crystal clear waters. I say island, but this place is so small the plane could hardly land and it looked like we were about to touchdown on the water. The plane was a tiny blue and red thing with windows that actually opened. I think there were just eight of us on the plane. I won’t lie I was nervous.
Anyway, once we landed the heat almost knocked us all over. A guy with long black hair and an incredible snake tattoo running all the way down his left arm welcomed us to the island and took us to the huts we were staying in.
OMG, you should have seen this place. The ‘apartment’ which was really a hut was actually sitting over the crystal clear water on long wooden legs made from tree branches. I’d guess the legs were around 15 feet tall. And there were no beds, just these huge straw mats with a thin sheet and a net to keep out any bugs whilst we slept … etc, etc.”
Can you see the difference between the two storytelling?
Reading the 2nd example you felt as though you could be there with her on the plane, on the island, and in the hut itself. You could SEE the details in your mind.
And that is part of the secret to being a good story writer.
To become a good story writer you should follow these 9 easy steps…
Pack every word with tiny easy to visualise detail
Take readers to the location in their mind
Let the reader believe they can see and smell the place
Allow the reader to gather detail and have the ability to add their own bits of detail in their mind
Exaggerate where it feels right
Strip back where it feels right
Keep it interesting, compelling and real
Don't stop until the story is fully told - there are no restrictions on a story length
Keep it interesting, compelling, engaging and believable
And it is like reading a story to kids. The story should have a start, a middle, and of course an end. Don’t skip the middle or finish too early. Tell the whole story.
That is part of what will help you become a good story writer.
Once your story is created in its best detail read it out loud to yourself and a friend and let them comment if they felt they were really there with you.
Just write it so well the whole family will want to read it together.
Get started on those tips and you will become a good story writer.
Alan
The Write a Book Project.
